Nilometer in Rhoda Island, Ancient water measurement structure in Rhoda Island, Egypt.
The Nilometer features an octagonal marble column inside a stone well that transitions from a rectangular top to a circular base.
Built in 861 AD under caliph Al-Mutawakkil, this structure allowed Egyptian authorities to predict annual Nile floods and determine taxation levels.
The walls display Quranic inscriptions connecting water, mathematics, and prosperity themes, representing one of Egypt's oldest Kufic writing examples.
Visitors can explore the internal chamber to observe the measurement system that monitored water levels through carved marks on the marble column.
The structure incorporates three architectural styles: a medieval well, classical measurement tools, and a 1925 cone-shaped dome addition.
Location: Rhoda Island
Inception: 861
Address: Al-Miqyas Street, Southern Tip of Al-Roda Island, Cairo Governorate شارع المقياس, 264G+Q2J, الطرف الجنوبي, لجزيرة الروضة, قسم مصر القديمة، محافظة القاهرة 4240101, Egypt 4240101 4240101
Opening Hours: Montag-Sonntag 09:00-15:45
Website: https://egymonuments.gov.eg/ar/monuments/rawda-island-nilometer
GPS coordinates: 30.00687,31.22494
Latest update: May 15, 2025 20:43
Cairo preserves an architectural heritage spanning over fifteen centuries. This collection includes religious buildings, traditional houses, and utilitarian structures that reflect the Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman periods. Mosques such as Sultan Hassan with its 68-meter minaret stand alongside ancient homes with mashrabiya windows, while the 9th-century Nilometer highlights the river's importance in Egyptian society. The route passes through various historic districts, from El Khalifa with its medieval monuments to Ottoman houses from the 16th and 17th centuries like Bayt Al-Suhaymi or those housing the Gayer-Anderson Museum. Aqsunqur Mosque stands out with its Iznik tiles showcasing floral motifs, a legacy of Ottoman influence. The City of the Dead, a cemetery stretching four kilometers, illustrates the continuity between burial sites and inhabited areas. Green spaces like Al-Azhar Park offer views of a dense city where traditions blend with everyday life.
Cairo is home to millennia of history. The Giza Pyramids, built between 2686 and 2494 BC, stand alongside Fatimid mosques like the Ibn Tulun Mosque from 879, and Mamluk fortifications such as Saladin's Citadel from the 12th century. Religious heritage reflects community diversity: Saint Serge Church dates to the 4th century, while Sainte-Marie Church from the 7th century reuses elements of the Roman fortress of Babylon. The Cairo Museum, opened in 1902, displays over 120,000 archaeological artifacts including Tutankhamun’s burial mask. Khan Al-Khalili market, established in 1382, continues traditional trade along its alleys lined with spice and craft shops. The Gayer Anderson House exemplifies 16th-century Ottoman residential architecture. These sites span Egypt’s history from pharaonic antiquity to the Ottoman period.
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